MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – His big, brown eyes and concerned, furrowed brow just draw you in. Oscar, the first canine advocate for the Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office, defines comfort and support.

The 18-month-old black Labrador retriever has a newfound purpose in Muskegon County: comforting young victims of crime through the often traumatic court process that can include testifying against, and sometimes confronting, their offenders.

Oscar was officially sworn in as the county's canine advocate during a 4 p.m. court hearing on Monday, Oct. 27 by Muskegon County 60th District Court Judge Raymond J. Kostrzewa.

Several people attended the short ceremony on the second floor of the county building. Standing with Oscar was his handler, Lynn M. Meeuwenberg, the administrative services manager for the Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office. Oscar lives with Meeuwenberg and her family.

The pup sat patiently while the judge asked him a number of questions and, with the help of Meeuwenberg, managed to nod his head up and down as if to say he understood.

"If you could raise your right paw now," the judge asked, drawing a chuckle from the crowd. "Do you promise to comfort, protect and support (victims of crime)?"

The judge said it was "with great pleasure" to welcome Oscar to the area and called him "a tremendous asset to the court system in general."

"I think this is a progressive step in comforting victims of crime," Kostrzewa said.

To say that Oscar is accepted by those who see him daily at the county building is an understatement. He's been welcomed with open arms, often visited by court deputies and other county employees who work in the same building.

But, most importantly, his presence seems to be significantly helping young victims.

Meeuwenberg said his first few assignments -- sitting in on meetings with prosecutors, victim services staff and crime victims -- went well. He knows when to comfort, when to sit near someone who needs his services.

Oscar also made his first big court appearance with a 7-year-old girl recently during her preliminary examination as she testified about alleged sexual abuse.

Oscar never left her side as she walked out of the courtroom holding his leash as he guided her down the hall.

"He's just perfect," Meeuwenberg said.

Oscar's journey to Muskegon County

As a former leader dog for the blind, he ended up having some issues with his ears, so he no longer qualified as a leader dog and was shifted over to the advocacy program. Oscar comes with valuable training that carried into his current position.

Prosecutor D.J. Hilson said Oscar is a wonderful addition to his office and to the community as a whole.

"I can't tell you how excited I am. We asked the kids how they would feel about having a dog right by them (during the court process). The smiles ... wow," Hilson said. "It was just a no-brainer."

The idea of getting a canine advocate in Muskegon came to Hilson after he attended a conference in February of this year.

"A dog was there and other prosecutors talked about their experience with advocacy dogs. Just to hear the stories of who these dogs help, in particular small children who have to come into court to talk, was amazing. To be that security and to give them that strength and be that friend while they go through that scary process – it's amazing," Hilson said.

"Right after the presentation, I walked up to the speaker and asked what do I have to do to get a dog."

He was directed to Dan Cojanu, who started the Michigan Canine Advocacy Program.

Each of the dogs has undergone training as a guide through Leader Dogs for the Blind, a Rochester Hills-based organization that trains Seeing Eye dogs. For one reason or another, the advocate dogs either did not make it through the program or could not successfully complete tasks once paired with a human partner.

"When I got back from the conference, we started working on the process," Hilson said.

The Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office learned in September that they found a dog. It was Oscar.

"He became available and we jumped on it almost immediately," Hilson said.

The dog cost the county just $500 and that amount was donated. His other expenses – veterinarian bills and daily care and food – are covered by Meeuwenberg. Donations for Oscar's care can be given by the community to the Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office, Hilson said.

"As we start introducing Oscar to the community, we will be reaching out to organizations and veterinarians and citizens to help us with donations," he said.

Support and comfort

Oscar is a quick learner. He knows when to comfort, he knows when to stay still when a victim just needs his presence and no more.

When a victim first comes to meet with victim service's staff, Meeuwenberg said Oscar immediately becomes "their dog" for the day.

"Oscar gives the child a little bit of power. They have control of his leash in the building," she said. "He's a nice distraction. When he's in court, he has to lay down. But animals have intuition and sometimes he puts his head in someone's lap."

He's sat through jury trials, next to victims while they've testified and laid next to one weeping victim after she appeared in court, Meeuwenberg said.

"He waited outside the courtroom for the victim to testify. After she went to the conference room, she collapsed next to Oscar. Oscar just laid there," she said.

"He's a nice distraction. A lot of times in court, victims are confronting their abuser. Oscar is a nice icebreaker. He gives them support. They can't have their parents sitting there, but they have Oscar."

Another victim who was meeting with victim services staff and a prosecutor about her experience didn't want to talk. Oscar came in handy then, too, she said.

"We told her to tell Oscar and she really opened up," Meeuwenberg said.

And once victims are finished with their time in court, they can "always come back" to visit Oscar. Some young victims have drawn pictures of Oscar in an effort to show their appreciation, Meeuwenberg said.

"I can't think of one downfall in this entire experience," she said.

Hilson agrees.

"It is just a fantastic opportunity for us to work with kids," he said. "This gives them that ability to really find comfort. This is forever. We couldn't be happier."

Heather Lynn Peters covers police and fire, and writes a statewide food column, The Spunky Kitchen, for MLive Muskegon Chronicle. Email her at hpeters@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter @HLPNEWS.